All of your vitamins are horribly low. Are you vegan or vegetarian? You must be feeling terrible.
Suggest you get GP to test you for coeliac.
If not vegan or vegetarian:
B12 - do you have symptoms of B12 deficiency? The reference range for B12 is very wide and cut off point too low. theb12society.com/signs-and...
If you do then you should discuss this with your doctor for further tests for Pernicious Anaemia.
If not, then start with a methyl B12 sublingual spray or lozenge for a week, then add a good B complex. Once you run out of the separate B12 just continue with the B complex.
Folate - aim for a level of 20. Recommend taking an active/methyl (should say on label) B complex which contains 400mcgs folate (also B12). Slightly cheaper options with inactive B6:
If you show these results to your GP they may wish to retest Vit D and give you loading doses.
Vitamin D should be around 100 - 150. Buy one that includes vit K2 to help it go to your bones. Some are available in oil or you can take it with an oily meal for better absorption. Many members like the ‘Better You’ range of mouth sprays that contain both bit D & K2. Use this calculator to work out how much to take to get your level to 100-150.grassrootshealth.net/projec...
Ferritin is deficient. Show GP these results and they should prescribe iron for you. Take iron 4 hours away from Levo (if you are taking that) and with orange juice or anything containing vit C to help it absorb better.
Thank you Jaydee1507 for taking the time to reply.
I guess I probably am a vegetarian. I would prefer veg over meat therefore wouldn't eat much meat at all. I really appreciate all the info you have given me and will sit down and go through those links .
Ive never heard of Pernicious Anaemia must look into that now.
Ive suffered with severe constipation all my life, remember my mother bringing me to the doctor at 12 with it, 51 now. I have been taking laxatives passed 5 years to help the burden wonder if this has affected my nutrients?
I had a colonoscopy and laparoscopy last year due to constipation but all ok and he said I wasn't coeliac.
Likely thyroid levels are poor and are CAUSING poor nutrient absorption due to LOW stomach acid
Are you vegetarian or vegan?
When are you seeing GP
Ferritin is deficient
You need full iron panel test for anaemia
Will need iron supplements
B12 so low you need testing for Pernicious Anaemia before starting on daily B12 supplement or possibly loading dose B12 injections and on going injections every 2-3 months
Vitamin D virtually deficient
Folate inadequate but don’t start supplementing any B vitamins until a week after started on daily B12 supplement or 48 hours after first B12 injection
Thank you slow dragon for both of your replies and time . x
You mentioned this 'Likely thyroid levels are poor and are CAUSING poor nutrient absorption due to LOW stomach acid'. this is interesting as I have a hiatus hernia. are these connected I wonder.
I was saying t jaydee1507 I probably am a vegetarian, as id eat veg over meat. This is obviously affected my iron. Lots to look at.
I have been tested for coeliac but told no. it was a colonoscopy. I got tested for this due to chronic constipation since childhood.
my sister was a coeliac as a child, doc said she grew out of it.
my mother had an underactive thyroid.
Thank you for your help girlies, so much appreciated.
I will update my thyroid bloods once I get them xxx
as your Mum had hypothyroidism it’s highly likely your hypothyroidism is autoimmune….aka Hashimoto’s
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances.
Most common by far is gluten.
Dairy is second most common.
A trial of strictly gluten free diet is always worth doing
Only 5% of Hashimoto’s patients test positive for coeliac but a further 81% of Hashimoto’s patients who try gluten free diet find noticeable or significant improvement or find it’s essential
A strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential due to gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and may slowly lower thyroid antibodies (assuming you have high antibodies)
Don’t start more than one change at a time
So …..most important you get started on levothyroxine (assuming test shows you are hypothyroid)
Perhaps in 3-4 months once vitamin levels improved and thyroid improving
Then perhaps Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse
The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported
In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned
Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.
Similarly few months later consider trying dairy free too. Approx 50-60% find dairy free beneficial
With loads of vegan dairy alternatives these days it’s not as difficult as in the past
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